Rare Moments, Carnivore Craziness & Courageous Cubs: July at Umzolozolo
Anyone who has spent time at Nambiti Game Reserve knows that leopard sightings are a rare and sought after experience. During the first fortnight of July, guests at Umzolozolo were treated to one of the more exceptional leopard encounters ever to have been recorded. Field Guides Promise and Siya were driving a group together and had called for standby for a lion sighting. While waiting to view the southern pride, they happened upon a leopard. As the morning unfolded, it seemed that the lions had also spotted the secret hunter and being the more dominant cat, they started to put pressure on it. Not wanting to go down without a fight, the leopard moved closer to the guides waiting on standby and further from the lions. In a moment of clarity, the leopard identified an escape route and disappeared into the thicket. It just goes to show that you should always expect the unexpected and keep scanning around while on standby for a sighting!
With many of the blocks on the north western side of the reserve being burnt this month, the activity in the area has been increasing. Southern Bald Ibis, Jackal Buzzard and Blue Cranes have been seen foraging in the ashes. A few unique species have also been seen, namely Temminck’s Courser and Senegal Lapwing. Herds of selective grazers like blue wildebeest, blesbok and red hartebeest have moved into the burnt sections as well and this entices the apex predators to put their hunting skills to the test. With the carcasses left out in the open, we have recorded an increase in White-backed Vultures in the area.
Since the successful translocation of our three northern lions, the lionesses of the northern pride have been keeping a low profile and spending their time far north on the reserve. Our only remaining dominant male popped in for an extended visit with these females towards the middle of the month, but have since returned to the Tswalu lionesses. His brother suffered a fatal illness and it has been a difficult period of adjustment for all.
Our spotted cats are keeping us on our toes with some intriguing new patterns of movement. The coalition of brothers are in an amorous mood lately and have been seen interacting with all three of the females. Our oldest female is giving them the cold shoulder, the middle female has been far more receptive to their advances, while the youngest female is laser focused on raising her two cubs and is not all that happy to see the boys right now. I was out on a drive a few days ago and the two males separated the cubs from the mom for a few intense minutes. We were all relieved to see them reunited and healthy a couple of days later.
The winter conditions and thinning vegetation has offered us more opportunities to view these speedsters hunting. While most of the hunts we have seen have ended in failure, Field Guide Mark shared a successful one with guests on the very last day of the month when one of the females took down a blesbok!
We have hosted some bush breakfasts down at Hoopoe Dam this month. Sitting in the mild winter sunshine after a chilly morning drive has been wonderful. It has also been a season of proposals at Umzolozolo recently. We are very delighted to be part of our guests’ big moments and congratulate all of the happy couples on their engagements!
To be fair, it hasn’t been the coldest month this year. There was some frost around on a couple of mornings, and thick mist has been more common. I would still encourage guests to bring their winter woolies along. When the sun is down or sitting low, temperatures are freezing and then we have to also consider the wind chill factor of August!
See you out there! Stay warm!
Head Guide Noleen Turner